Lower Manhattan's revitalization includes a transportation system that will need
to accommodate a range of changes brought about by September 11, 2001, such as
the creation of a memorial that will attract at least 5 million visitors a
year, the transformation of the World Trade Center site, and the broader
revitalization of Lower Manhattan into a community bustling with new cultural
institutions and public spaces. Substantial upgrades to the area's rail, bus,
ferry and street systems are key to retaining and growing Lower Manhattan's
commercial base, improving visitor experiences, and raising the quality of life
for residents and workers.

Projects Underway

World Trade Center Transportation Hub and Fulton Street Transit Center
A new Lower Manhattan transit complex will consist of two components: the PATH
Terminal at the World Trade Center, and the Fulton Street Transit Center,
located at Fulton Street and Broadway. They will be connected by an east-west
concourse, extending under Dey Street between Church Street and Broadway. An
underground concourse will link the new PATH terminal with the World Financial
Center and the MTA's new Fulton Street Transit Center. Pedestrians will be able
to access the Hudson River ferry terminals, PATH trains, and 13 subway lines.

Construction began in 2005 on the new PATH terminal, a grand new gateway
to Lower Manhattan. The PATH station transit hub is being designed by the
world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, and will replace the temporary
station currently in use. The building features soaring glass-and-steel "wings"
that can be opened to embrace the sky on pleasant days. Natural light will
flood into the cathedral-like interior, penetrating all the way down to the
rail platforms, 60 feet below street level. The terminal will stand at the
northeast corner of the World Trade Center site, and is destined to be a magnet
for visitors in its own right, attracting a variety of retail stores and
restaurants in the concourse and on surrounding streets.

Work on the new Fulton Street Transit Center began in early 2005. The
new station will have its main entry at the southeast corner of Fulton Street
and Broadway. The project will untangle the maze of ramps and passageways of
the station’s subway lines
(/ ,
/ ,
/ / ,
and
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and provide improved signage and a significant amount of light to below
street-level areas. The station will also be linked to the / line, and the
line as part of the World Trade Center transportation hub.

West Street Promenade (Route 9A)
The tree-lined West Street will be built along the World Trade Center site and Battery Park City. The pedestrian promenade will ensure a more pedestrian friendly roadway adjacent to the World Trade Center memorial, and make West Street more amenable to commercial and residential development. It will also link the site physically and visually to the southern tip of Manhattan, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. At the southern end of West Street, the New York State Department of Transportation has already completed construction of "Promenade South", an open, tree-lined pedestrian area. The project includes a new plaza area, better crosswalks, a bikeway, and a u-turn for vehicles just north of Battery Place. In 2007, construction of the northern portion of the promenade will begin, between West Thames Street and Chambers Street. More »

South Ferry Subway Station
Construction of the new South Ferry Station is under way and will be completed
in 2008. The completely redesigned station will accommodate a
full-length, 10-car subway train, rather than the 5-car platform that exists
today. The project will also correct other existing physical and operating
deficiencies, reduce customer travel times, provide additional station
entrances with ADA accessibility, and will offer a new free transfer between
the 1 subway line and the R,W lines at Whitehall Street. The upgraded South
Ferry Station will improve the commuter experience for passengers traveling to
Lower Manhattan as well as for Staten Island residents headed for destinations
in Manhattan. More »

Jamaica/Long Island and JFK Airport Access

New Tunnel Alternative Identified in Feasibility Study

In 2004, a feasibility study recommended a direct rail link from Jamaica to
Lower Manhattan via the existing Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Atlantic Branch
and a new tunnel underneath the East River, with an intermediate stop in
Downtown Brooklyn. The study recommended new train service from Jamaica to
Lower Manhattan (leaving every six minutes during the peak periods) and a
one-seat train ride from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Lower
Manhattan.

In 2005, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and NYC
Economic Development Corporation initiated the Lower Manhattan-Jamaica/JFK
Airport Transportation Project, the next step in the effort to rebuild Lower
Manhattan’s transportation system. This project will ensure that the required
environmental review is undertaken before construction begins.

In April 2003, a set of priority projects to restore Lower Manhattan's transportation infrastructure and lay the foundation for the area's future growth was announced. A blueprint prepared by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, the New York State Department of Transportation, the City of New York and other partner agencies, outlined strategies for creating a 21st century integrated system.

The blueprint, Lower Manhattan Transportation Strategies, addressed the steps needed to create a world-class regional and airport access system linking Lower Manhattan to Long Island and all three of the area's major airports, and revitalize downtown's antiquated and damaged transportation network.